Game apparatus



Dec. 14, 1943. c. D..SHANYNO N GAME APPARATUS Filed' Dec. 24, 1942 4 INVENTOR 0/4/12 50.0. JAA/V/VOA/ ATTOR EYS Patented Dec. 14, 1943 X UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAME APPARATUS Charles D. Shannon, Florence, Mass.

Application December 24, 1942, Serial No. 469,972

2 Claims. (Ql. 273-35) This invention relates to a game apparatus of general utility but more particularly adapted to a putting game with a golf ball.

In the embodiment shown, the parts are in such relative proportion as to be suitable for an outdoor game in which the usual golf club and ball are used. The apparatus, however, is of convenient portable size and either singly or in combination with other devices of like character may be set down on a putting green or other reasonably level base, for playing the game.

The advantages of this game apparatus are that it not only affords means for amusement and competitive skill in putting but also serves as a practice implement, the use of which either in competition or in solo sufiiciently simulates the actual conditions for putting into a cup as to greatly improve the players putting skill. It has the further advantage of providing such conditions readily at places remote from a prepared golf field and without disturbance of the base or field on which it is used.

In the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the apparatus.

Fig. 1 is a, plan view of the complete device;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section along line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the same; and

Fig. 4 is a View of the arrangement of several said devices on a playing field.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the apparatus comprises a frame which may be suitably made up from relatively long and narrow strips of material such as wood nailed or otherwise secured together to form a unitary structure which is portable for being set down on any relatively smooth or level area as a playing field. In the formation of the frame two such narrow strips of wood, indicated at l and 2 are arranged in parallel relation and set on edge, so as to form the side walls of a relatively narrow and long straight channel 3 through which a golf ball may be putted. The frame should provide other similar putting channels formed as shown by the arrangement of the strips 4 and 5 which constitute the walls of a putting channel at 6.

The strips or wall pieces I, 2, 4 and 5 or further strips if additional channels are provided, are all held together by suitable tie strips 1 and 8 which lie flat across the top edges of the first named strips and may be nailed thereto. As shown, these connecting strips such as I and 8 at the top of the wall pieces form the sole means for holding the wall pieces together whereby the bottom of the several putting channels are left free of obstructions when the frame is placed upon a putting green or other base. It will be understood that the height of the vertical walls of the putting channels will be sufiicient to allow an ordinary golf ball such as indicated at B to roll therethrough without interference from the tie strips 1 and 8 as shown in Fig. 2. The ends of the strips l and 4 are each preferably provided as shown with cleats 9, I0, and H, l2, both to reenforce said ends and also to provide a slightly wider base therefor than would be furnished by the thickness of the strip itself. The inner strips 2 and 5 are provided with such end cleats l3 and I4 only at the wider end of the frame.

The putting channels 3 and 6 formed by the aforesaid strips are preferably arranged to diverge from one end of the frame to the other so as to impart to the frame a V-shaped contour. Also at the narrow end of said frame the channels 3 and 6 are slightly spaced from one another so that a ball may be putted directly through said frame along its longitudinal axis and between said channels 3 and 6 without going through either of them. In other words, at the narrow end of the frame there is an entrance for the ball to be putted, indicated at I5, and another entrance in line therewith at l6, as well as the side entrances l1 and I8 into the respective channels 3 and 6. The outside walls or strips l and 4 for the frame are preferably extended beyond the corresponding ends of the inner strips 2 and 5 so as to provide at the wide end of the frame, portions at [9 and 20 against which banking shots may be made in putting the ball towards the said entrances of said channels 3 and 6.

It will be readily understood that many different sets of rules of play may be formulated for creating a competitive putting game by the use of the apparatus as shown, and that said apparatus may be used either singly or in combination with other devices of similar character arranged on a playing field in different positions to enhance interest in the game. The apparatus also may be used by a solo player to improve his putting skill.

Referring to Fig. 4 which illustrates one manner in which the apparatus may be used in a game, I have shown four of said devices F set down on a playing field. The narrow ends of each of the frames may be pointed outwardly and the wide ends facing towards the center. A short distance beyond the narrow end of each frame F may be marked a line P behind which the ball may be placed in any desired position of starting a putt through the frame. The rules may provide that the ball shall be played through the several frames in the direction of the dotted line and arrows thereon as indicated in Fig. 4 so that theball will have to be played succes sively through each frame and througheach channel or space therethrough. The number of strokes required in putting the ball from the starting position; around" through the-- frames and back again may be counted as the scoreafor the game.

I claim:

1. In a game apparatus for use with, a golf;

ball in a putting game, a V-shaped frame comprising a pair of parallel spaced apartwallipiec'esr.

at one side of the frame, a second. pair of. parallel spaced apart wall pieces at* the-other* side-of to provide a second putting opening in line with said first named putting opening, said second named putting opening being between the entrances to the separate and divergent putting channels of said frame.

2. In a game apparatus for use with a golf ball in a putting game, a V-shaped frame comprising a pair of parallel spaced apart wall pieces at one side of the frame, a second pair of parallel spaced apart: wall pieces at-the,v other side of said frame, tie'pieces connected across the top edges of said several wall pieces and forming the sole means of holding said wall pieces together in the frame, each said pair of wall pieces vide a putting opening, and the converging ends of the two inner wall pieces being spaced apart to provide a second putting opening in line with said first named putting opening, said second named putting opening'bei'ng'between the entrances to the separate and divergent putting channels of said frame,

' cHARLEs D; SHANNON. 

